Northern Liberties Eatery Is Defaced By Anti-Semitic Graffiti

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Monday, June 3, 2013

Over the weekend, Honey's Sit 'n Eat, the restaurant at the corner of Fourth and Brown Streets that proudly proclaims its Jewish identity through menu items like matzah ball soup and brisket platters, as well as by its sign that uses Hebrew-style lettering, was defaced by anti-Semitic graffiti. The swastika and other scrawls covering the restaurant's exterior were found the morning of June 1.

Honey's owners quickly painted over it, but photos taken before the graffiti was obscured quickly went viral on local social media as people expressed solidarity with the bruncherie and its Jewish owner, Ellen Mogell.

When I see negativity toward anyone or group of people, I feel sick. As the grandchild of Holocaust survivors, this hits home even worse.

Judging by the reactions of people interviewed for this story, I'm not alone in feeling this way.

"I saw that graffiti. Pathetic. It's hard to believe that the person who did this would do it based upon the font/lettering of Honey's sign. But if so, it makes it even more upsetting," said Jason Clarke of Marlton. "The trend of hate and violence in the great neighborhoods of the city is unsettling."

Oron Daskal, the owner of North Bowl and a Northern Liberties resident was even more emphatic. "Graffiti tagging is a sore subject for me," he said. "On one hand, you can't say anything, because you can start a tagging war. " Although his establishment has been subjected to other forms of vandalism and has never been targeted with anti-Semitic graffiti, he could sympathize with the problem. "We have probably spent about $6,000 since we've opened, just for repairing mirrors and walls. It is blatant ignorance."

"There's no room for promoting the swastika anymore," he said. "It hurts."

Adam Oded, another Northern Liberties homeowner, said: "It's unfortunate to see a swastika spray-painted on a Jewish-style restaurant in my neighborhood. Why Honey's? Probably because there is tight security at actual Jewish institutions like the National Museum of American Jewish History, The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia and our historic synagogues like Congregation Mikveh Israel and Rodeph Shalom. I assume that the person who did this doesn't live in Northern Liberties and probably doesn't have many Jewish friends. I'll probably go to Honey's for a meal this week to show my support."